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Momodou
Denmark
11829 Posts |
 Posted - 11 Nov 2009 : 18:26:15
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HUMAN RIGHTS NGOS MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
By Pateh Baldeh
The Forum on the participation of NGOs in the 46th ordinary session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights on Monday passed resolutions and made recommendations to be placed before the Commission at its session in Banjul which commences today Wednesday 11th November 2009.
One resolution dilated on the Human Rights situation in the Gambia, calling on the African Commission to initiate a fact finding mission on prisoners of conscience in the country, the arrest and keeping suspects incommunicado, violation of human rights such as torture. It called for freedom of expression to be fully guaranteed and the full protection of Human Rights defenders in the country.
Another resolution on the Human Rights situation in Niger called on the Commission to put pressure on the government of Niger to respect freedom of association and freedom of expression, among others.
The Forum also passed a resolution for the consideration of the removal of the Headquarters of African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights from the Gambia to any other country, in Africa where human rights are respected.
The forum also passed a resolution on Guinean Conakry, calling on the Commission to put pressure on the head of the Military Junta, Captain Musa Dadis Camara, to comply with his promise not to stand for elections; and for the head of the Junta to accept independent investigations on the killing of innocent people in September.
Resolutions were also passed on other countries, including Sudan and Zimbabwe.
The following resolutions were also passed with recommendations:
Refugees and internally displaced persons in Africa, Recommendation on the prevention of Torture in Africa, Freedom of expression in Africa; the disappearance of Gambian Journalist, Chief Ebrima Manneh was also mentioned.
Countries on top of the agenda on lack of freedom of expression mentioned at the Forum include Zimbabwe, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At the closing ceremony the Executive Director of the African Centre for Democracy and Human Rights Studies (ACDHRS) Madam Hannah Forster expressed her delight on the success and achievement of the NGOs Forum, saying that they have achieved all the objectives during the past three days of the Forum.
In declaring the NGOs forum closed the Director, University International Relations and Information, Alh. Gumbo Ali Touray, said civil society organisations have an eminent role in the fight against vagrant violations of human rights.
Gumbo Ali Touray therefore challenged participants to ring the bell louder as human rights violations continue to take its course with impurity around the African continent. From the Horn of Africa to the West from the Cape of Good hope to the Maghreb, the carnage of violations continue to top the news. Infringement of the rules of law and freedom of mankind continue unabated. Touray emphasised the need to be more robust in our campaign and greater action. He asked participants, as they return to their respective countries, to take the message around and bring hope to the suffering and the lone voices within. The forum brought together about 125 participants from 25 countries on the continent and other partners.
Source: Foroyaa Online
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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